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What is augmented reality in training?


Before augmented reality, training experiences took place in classrooms or by shadowing expert employees. Relying on their memory, technicians and operators struggled to navigate paper-based manuals and turned to SMEs for on-the-job assistance. Augmented reality training acts as a “digital mentor” that provides in-context visual instructions for employees to leverage while they’re working. Users learn on the job, retain information better, and avoid interrupting experts.

Training challenges in manufacturing and service

Retiring workforce and high attrition

After they’re trained, new hires depend heavily on subject matter experts for on-the-job assistance—particularly when paper-based manuals lack the required details and visual context. But as more and more experienced workers retire, taking their valuable knowledge with them, fewer experts are available to support and mentor those new hires. And with high attrition and turnover in the manufacturing workforce, training each group of new hires is time-consuming and costly.

Increased product complexity

Increasingly complex products make it that much more challenging to train new employees, especially given the lack of sufficient instructions to navigate that complexity. Having fewer experts available to lend support only exacerbates this challenge.

Outdated tools and processes

Outdated tools and processes can make training less effective, increase training time, and slow comprehension. Manufacturers need a training solution that provides details and visual context, empowers users on the job, and lessens the burden on SMEs to assist new hires.

Where is augmented reality training most useful?

Manufacturing and service challenges call for an innovative approach to training. Leading manufacturers realize that training experiences are best delivered as ongoing support through in-context augmented reality instructions. When frontline workers have access to detailed, 3D instructions in the context of their physical environment, they unlock efficiencies throughout the training process and beyond.

Onboarding

Product knowledge training

Safety

Upskilling

Benefits of augmented reality training

As manufacturers face these common workforce challenges, AR is proving to be an ideal training solution. Empowering the workforce with augmented reality training yields important business benefits.

As manufacturers face these common workforce challenges, AR is proving to be an ideal training solution. Empowering the workforce with augmented reality training yields important business benefits.

Reduce training time

With AR, frontline workers can spend less time learning in the classroom and more time learning on the job with in-context AR guidance. Reduced training time improves frontline worker productivity and accelerates comprehension.

With AR, frontline workers can spend less time learning in the classroom and more time learning on the job with in-context AR guidance. Reduced training time improves frontline worker productivity and accelerates comprehension.

Employee retention

Investing in your workforce helps them feel appreciated. AR training improves engagement and the overall employee experience by offering an exciting alternative to traditional training methods.

Investing in your workforce helps them feel appreciated. AR training improves engagement and the overall employee experience by offering an exciting alternative to traditional training methods.

Ease of collaboration

AR training enhances collaboration by enabling knowledge sharing and remote assistance. Users can access expert knowledge at any time through captured content, or they can even connect with an expert remotely for real-time problem-solving.

AR training enhances collaboration by enabling knowledge sharing and remote assistance. Users can access expert knowledge at any time through captured content, or they can even connect with an expert remotely for real-time problem-solving.

Reduce training costs

Before, frontline workers sat through classroom learning and relied on experts for on-the-job support. AR reduces the resources required for training by providing all the information frontline workers need in one experience.

Before, frontline workers sat through classroom learning and relied on experts for on-the-job support. AR reduces the resources required for training by providing all the information frontline workers need in one experience.

Increase expert productivity

Since AR training acts as a digital mentor that’s continuously available to support frontline workers, the burden on SMEs is lightened, freeing up more of their time to focus on their own tasks.

Since AR training acts as a digital mentor that’s continuously available to support frontline workers, the burden on SMEs is lightened, freeing up more of their time to focus on their own tasks.

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Industry specific use cases for AR training

AR training is valuable for frontline workers across different industries. The following industries leverage augmented reality to streamline training, increase productivity, and improve the employee experience.

Automotive

Manufacturing

Life sciences

AR training helps frontline workers ensure that <a href="/en/resources/augmented-reality-on-demand/implementing-ar-for-training">medical devices</a>&nbsp;are operating properly and receiving quality service.

Federal, aerospace, and defense

Automotive Step-by-step guidance and X-ray vision technology enhance work instructions for improved training outcomes with complex and customized vehicles. Manufacturing Augmented reality training helps plant floor operators familiarize themselves with complex products through detailed 3D visualizations and step-by-step instructions. Life sciences AR training helps frontline workers ensure that medical devices are operating properly and receiving quality service. Federal, aerospace, and defense Frontline workers in federal aerospace and defense leverage AR training to improve productivity and reduce downtime.

How to use augmented reality in training

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Optimized operations

Harpak-ULMA uses augmented reality training to visualize complex processes and streamline packaging operations, improving productivity and reducing scrap and rework. Read the Story

Transformed upskilling

BID Group leveraged AR remote assistance as a training and upskilling tool for service technicians, improving efficiency and reducing travel costs. Read the Story

Improved quality

AR training streamlined the complicated assembly process at Nascote Industries, a division of Magna International, by supporting different learning styles in the workforce. Read the Story

Learn how experts can capture, share, and scale their knowledge in training content with Vuforia Expert Capture.

Learn how Vuforia Studio enables the creation of 3D instructions and training experiences.

Learn how Vuforia Chalk enables real-time collaboration between frontline workers and experts through digital annotations on a shared view.

Augmented reality training FAQ

Get the answers to commonly asked questions about using augmented reality for workforce training.

What are the steps to implement AR in training?

The first step to implementing AR in training is to leverage the training instructions and visuals you already have. From there, you can further enhance the AR training solutions with your organization’s 3D models for added context and AI support. Additional features, like wayfinding and live IoT data, can be exceptionally helpful for providing all the information needed for employees. Once your AR training solution is complete, it can be easily scaled and shared out across your organization.

How does AR training work?

AR training works by getting in-context information that users can’t access from 2D manuals. This context can be presented through image, object, or model recognition for hands-on training with digital augmentations that “stick” to the physical object. Alternatively, AR enables plane recognition so frontline workers can access a digital version of the machine for immersive training without the risk of damaging a physical product.

How much does augmented reality training cost?

The cost of augmented reality training depends on the software you’re using and how you’ll be using it. The initial cost can be minimal, particularly if you’re leveraging existing devices. Investing in headwear and expanding your AR footprint to allow multiple users will increase the cost of augmented reality for training.